Menopause prediction 'is possible'

Scientists have developed a method of detecting when a woman is likely to hit the menopause.

Led by Dr Fahimeh Rameani Tehrani, associate professor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, the study used a statistical model and a blood test to determine when the change was likely to take place.

"We believe that our estimates of ages at menopause based on AMH levels are of sufficient validity to guide medical practitioners in their day-to-day practice, so that they can help women with their family planning," said Dr Tehrani.

The method proved to have an average accuracy rate of within four months of the actual time of menopause.

However, there was a maximum margin of error of between three and four years.

The report found that the average age of the onset of menopause was around 52.

Dr Tehrani said that larger studies were now needed in order to test the accuracy of the model.